Toy fence



Fe'b.ll7, 1953 I J P, RHOME r 2,628,823

TOY FENCE Filed Aug. 10, 1950 INVENTORS. V JESSE 12 eHoME By 0'04 0. cwar/as 1 15. M Arromvexs Patented Feb. 17, 1953 TOY FENCE Jesse P. Rhome, Moundsville, and Lyda D. Curtiss, McMechen, W. Va., assignors to Louis Marx & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application. August 10, 1950,,Serial No. 178,582

fence in sections which may" be detachably assemble'dto form-an enclosure. Such sections are joined by means of dowels extending longitudinally of the fence.

one primary object of the present invention is togenerally improve toy fences. More particular objects are to provide toy fence sections which are not only detachable, but which may be put together'at almost any desired angle so that the sections maybe assembled to form enclosures of a great variety of length and shape. another object is to provide a toy fence which simulates a rustic log fence. Still another object is to provide sections which may be readily assembled or taken apart and which present a realistic appearance at the connections between the sections, this realistic appearance being maintained while disposing the sections at any desired angle over a relatively large range from an acute angle of, say45 to a straight angle or 180.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, our invention resides in the toy fence element and their relationone to another as are hereinafter more particularly described in the followingspecification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. I is arear: elevation of a fencesection embodying features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is'aplan view of the same;

Fig; 3- is a' front elevation of the fencesection;

- Fig.4 is an inside view at the post connecting two-- sections; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section drawn to eniarged scale and taken in the plane of the line 5'-5 of Fig. 1

Fig. dis a horizontal section drawn to enlarged scale and taken in the plane of the line E-5 of Fig- I;

Fig. 7 is-a-horizontal section drawn to enlarged scale: and taken in the: plane of the line 1-1 of Fig. 4', and: shows the: connection between sections; t

Fig. 8* is a; similar view showing the relation of the partswhen the sections are approximately at right angles;

Fig. 9' is asimilar section showing the relation of theparts when. the sections are" at anacute angle;

Fig. 10 1s a front-elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Still '7' Claims. (01. 256-26) Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view showing fencesections arranged in triangular outline;

Fig. 12 is a schematic planview showing fence sections arranged in square outline;

Fig. 13 is a schematic plan view'showing; fence sections arranged in rectangular outline;

Fig. 14 is a schematic plan view showing fence sections arranged in hexagonal outline; and

Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view showing fence sections arranged in octagonal outline.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 3, the fence section comprises. an up,- right post I 2 at one end, another upright post M at the other end with fence structure generally designated It extending therebetween. The post i2 is here termed an outer post, and thepost M an inner post because, as will later appear, when the sections are connected together each inner post is dimensioned and adapted to be received within an outer post and to then simulate a single post.

The reverse or inner side of the fence section is shown in Fig. 1, and the" section is shown in plan in Fig. 2. In these figures it will be seen that the outer post I2 has vertically spaced, aligned sockets I8- and 20, while the inner post I4 has vertically spaced, aligned pins 22' and 24; The pin are dimensioned to be received inthe sockets in order to detachably assemble the sections to form a continuous fence. The sockets 8 and 2E are preferably open-sided sockets, these being open as indicated at 26 in. Figs. 1,2 and 5. The enlarged view Fig.5 shows that: the opening 26 is less than diametrical, that is, less: than: 18.09", and the dimension of the opening is made; such as to receive the pins 22 and 2.4 with a snap fit.

The upright outer postv l2 preferably has. a coin.- cavo-convex wall forming a part of a cylinder. For reasons which will later appear, it is preferably only about one-third the periphery of: a complete cylinder, as will be clear; from inspection of Fig. 5, and it is preferably oriented: as shown in relation to the rails, that is, with. the railslocated near one edge of the cylindrical wall. The opening 26 of the socket faces in av direction generally perpendicular to the fence section or rails, as shown in Fig. 5.

The upright inner post 14 also is preferably made with an at least partially cylindrical. Wall which, however, is smaller in radius than the outer post l2, and therefore dimensioned to be received within the outer post, as is best shown in Fig. 7. The inner post may be a complete solid cylinder, but in order to minimize the amount of material required to make the same,

it is suficient to provide approximately a half of the periphery of a cylindrical wall, as will be seen in Fig. 6. This is preferably oriented with the fence rail I6 disposed near one edge of the wall, as shown.

When the pins are arranged to be received laterally with a snap fit in open-sided sockets, as here shown, the inner post I4, if solid, is necked or reduced in diameter to provide the aligned pins 22 and 24 previously referred to. If hollow, as here shown, there are disk-like parts at the top and bottom of each pin, best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. It will be understood that the pins are substantially concentric with the cylindrical wall of the inner post, and that the sockets are substantially concentric with the cylindrical wall of the outer post, and that all of these parts are concentrically related when the fence sections are assembled together as shown in Figs. 4, 7, and 9.

Fig. 7 shows the relation of the parts of two fence sections when assembled together in endto-end relation in a straight line. For this purpose, a fence section having an inner post It and fence structure, in this case specifically rails I6 is assembled with the outer post I2 of a section having fence structure, in this case specifically rails I6. To do this the pin 24' is snapped into the socket 20 of the section already described. In other words, Figs. 4 and '7 show the right end of Fig. 1 assembled with another fence section having a left end corresponding to the left end shown in Fig. 1.

For purposes of comparison reference may be made to Figs. 8 and 9 showing the fence sections disposed at different angles. In Fig. 8 the rails I6 and I6 are approximately at right angles, and it is important to observe how the cylindrical outer wall of the inner post I4 forms the continuation or extension of the cylindrical outer 1 transition between the cylindrical wall of the outer post and the cylindrical wall of the inner post, and improves the resemblance to a single round post.

It may be mentioned that the outer edges of the sockets I8 and 20 (see Figs. 4 and have substantially the same radius as the inner post, and consequently fill in the space around the pins, thus giving the post an apparent continuity even at the pins. Moreover, the outside of the socket is preferably roughened like the outside of the post, for the same purpose, as shown at 42 in Figs. 2 and 5.

Fig. 9 shows the relation of the parts with the fence rails at an angle of about 45, and it will be seen that even at this acute angle the exterior of the inner post forms an apparent extension of the exterior of the outer post, so that the two together constitute a single post at the fence corner. It will be understood that the rails may be disposed at any desired angle extending in a range all the way from an acute angle, such as that shown in Fig. 9, to 180 or a straight angle, as shown in Fig. 7.

Thus the fence sections may be arranged to form any of a large number of enclosures, a few .4 of which are illustrated in Figs. 11 through 15 of the drawing. In Fig. 11 three sections form a triangle. In Fig. 12 four sections form a square. In Fig. 13 six sections are used to form a rectangle twice as lcng on one side as on the other.

In Fig. 14 six sections are employed to form a hexagon, while in Fig. 15 eight sections are employed to form an octagon.

Some further features of the improved fence deserve attention. One of the two fence posts is preferably provided with a foot of sufficient area, or with a transverse dimension sufficiently great, to help hold the sections in upright position. Such a foot is shown at 30 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The foot is preferably slotted, as indicated at 32, to receive a nail or thumbtack for anchoring the fence on a baseboard when a more permanent installation is wanted. In Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing it will be seen that the foot 30 is disposed below the level of the lower ends of the posts I2 and I4 so that an inner post may be assembled with an outer post above the foot 30. a single foot 30 serving for the assembled posts. In the particular fence here shown the foot 30 is secured at the lower end of the inner post.

. The upper end of the outer post I2 is preferably provided with a top 34. This enhances the realism of the toy by concealing to considerable extent the hollow shell-like nature of the post. The top 34 is disposed at a level higher than the height of the inner post I4 so that the inner post may be received beneath the top 34 when the posts are reassembled together.

While it is not so important to have a top for the inner post, we prefer to provide the inner post with a top, indicated at 36. The top 36 fits beneath the top 34. The tops 34 and 36 may be a complete circle when viewed in plan, but they need not be. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that they are somewhat more than a semi-circle and are preferably oriented as there shown, for when so oriented they supplement one another to form in combination a complete top with the fence rails at an angle in substantially the whole range from an acute angle, somewhat as in Fig. 9, to a straight angle, as in Fig. 7.

The entire fence section, including all of the parts described, such as the posts, rails, sockets, pins, tops, and foot, are preferably integrally molded out of a single body of a moldable plastic. Thus the fence section may be made quite inexpensively despite its somewhat complex configuration and its realistic appearance. The particular fence here illustrated preferably simulates a rustic log fence. The posts I2 and I4 simulate rustic log posts connected by rails which also simulate rustic logs. To conserve material and to facilitate the molding operation the posts and logs are preferably made concavo-convex. They are convex on the outside, as seen in Fig. 3, and concave on the inside, as seen in Fig. 1. They are preferably molded with irregularities, as shown in the drawing, and when that is done the structure is surprisingly realistic despite the hollow instead of solid nature of the rails and posts. The plastic used is preferably one adapted for injection molding, thus facilitating the molding operation. It will be understood that where cost is not an important factor the rails may be molded as solid logs, and similarily the inner post may be molded as a solid post. However, the outer post is still a hollow shell in order to adapt it to receive the inner post when the sections are assembled together.

Reverting to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that in the particular fence section here described there are four rails extending between the posts. The upper pin 22 and socket t8 are located between thetwo upper rails, and the lower pin 24 and socket 211 are located between the two lower rails. This is a convenient location in order not to have to neck or cut away the inner post at the connection between the post and a rail, for that would spoil the appearance and realism of the toy, and would probably make it difficult or impossible to assemble sections over so wide a range of angle as is here made possible. It will be recalled that the necked parts of the inner post are filled in by the sockets of the outer post, and when the sections are swung over a wide angle the sockets of the outer POSt can rotate between the rails of the next section, so that there is no interference resulting from a change of angle. I

The illustrated fence section is typical of the ordinary continuous fence construction. If all of the sections are made alike, a gate maybe simulated by swinging one entire section away somewhat from the adjacent section to form an opening. However, in actual practice the toy fence may include one special section having either an actual movable gate between its ends, or a simulated but immovable gate. Moreover, such a special gate section may include other refinements such as one or more simulated lampposts at the sides of the gate to mark the gate entrance. Such a special section may! take varied forms, and constitutes no unique part of the present invention, which instead centers about the construction and method of fitting together of the normal continuous fence sections, or the similar mating end posts of the special gate section.

It is believed that the construction and method of use, as well as the advantages of our improved toy fence, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while we have shown and described the invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

l. A fence section for a multiple sectiontoy fence, said section comprising an outer post at one end, an inner post at the other end with fence structure extending therebetween, said outer post having a concavo-convex wall forming apart of a cylinder with spaced aligned open-sided sockets concentric with said wall on the concave side thereof, said inner post having an at least partially cylindrical wallof substantially the same radius as that of the concave side of said outer post, said inner post having portions of reduced diameter at spaced points to form pins in alignment with said sockets and of substantially the same diameter as said sockets in order to detachably assemble two or more sections to form a continuous fence.

2. A fence section as defined in claim 1, in which the upright posts simulate rustic logs and said fence structure comprises a plurality of fence rails, and the walls of said posts being so related to the direction of the rails that a connected inner and outer post form a continuous post wall on the outside when the fence sections are swung over an angle ranging from an acute angle to a straight angle.

3. A fence section for a multiple section toy fence, said section comprising an outer post at one end, an inner post at the other end with fence: structure extending therebetween, said outer post having a concavo-convex wall form ing a part of a cylinder with spaced aligned opensided sockets concentric with said well on the concave side thereof, said inner post having an at least partially cylindrical wait of substantially the same" radius as that of the concave side of said outer post, said inner post having portions of reduced diameter at spaced points to form" pins in alignment with said sockets and of substantially the same diameter as said sockets in order to detachably assembly two or more sections to form a continuous fence, said outer post'hav'ing a top, and said inner post "being somewhat shorter than said outer post to be received beneath said top, one only of said posts having a supporting foot at the bottom, and said pin and socket construction permitting said sections to be disposed in desired angular relation.

4. A fence section for a multiple section toy fence, said section comprising an outer post at one end, an inner post at the other end with fence structure extending therebetween, said outer post havin a concavo-convex wall forming a part of a cylinder with spaced aligned opensided sockets concentric with said wall on the concave side thereof, said inner post having an at least partially cylindrical wall of substantially the same radius as that of the concave side of said outer post, said inner post having portions of reduced diameter at spaced points to form pins in alignment with said sockets and of substantially the same diameter as said sockets, said sockets and pins being so relatively dimensioned as to mate together with a snap fit in order to detachably assemble two or more sections to form a continuous fence, said outer post having a top, and said inner post being somewhat shorter than said outer post to be received beneath said top. one of said posts having a supporting foot at the bottom, all of the parts of said section being v a single integral body of a moldable plastic, and

said pin and socket construction permitting said sections to be disposed in desired angular relation.

5. A fence section as defined in claim 4, in which the upright posts simulate rustic logs and said fence structure comprises a plurality of fence rails, and the walls of said posts being so related to the direction of the rails that a connected inner and outer post form a continuous post wall on the outside when the fence sections are swun over an angle ranging from an acute angle to 'a straight angle.

6. A fence section for a multiple section toy fence, said section comprising an outer post at one end, an inner post at the other end with fence structure extending therebetween, said outer post having a concavo-convex wall forming a part of a cylinder with spaced aligned sockets concentric with said wall on the concave side thereof, said inner post having an at least partially cylindrical wall of substantially the same radius as that of the concave side of said outer post, said inner post having portions cut away to clear said sockets and carrying in alignment with said sockets pins which are substantially the same diameter as said sockets to be received by said sockets in order to assemble two or more sections to form a continuous fence, one of said posts having a top, one of said posts having a supporting foot at the bottom, and said pin and socket construction permitting said sections to be disposed in desired angular relation.

A fence section for a multiple section toy fence, said section comprising a hollow opensided outer post at one end, an inner post at the other end with fence structure extendin therebetween, said open-sided hollow outer post having a relatively thin wall and spaced aligned sockets, said inner post being of nearly the same dimension as said outer post and small enough to be received within the hollow outer post and large enough to nearly fill the hollow space therewithin, but with some clearance therebetween, said inner post having portions located at spaced points which portions are shaped to act as pivots cooperating with and received by said sockets, said sockets and pivots being so relatively dimensioned as to mate together with a snap fit in order to detachably assemble two or more sections to form a continuous fence, said outer post having a top, and said inner post being somewhat shorter than said outer post to be received beneath said top, one of said posts having a sup- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 183,170 Hurley Oct. 10, 1876 382,806 Harris May 15, 1888 629,529 Simmons July 25, 1899 1,144,411 Hamachek June 29, 1915 20 1,519,931 Rehbein Dec. 16, 1924 I-Iowison Jan. 7, 1947 

